What's on the Table?

Based on material by Geoff Chesman

The Seder Plate & The Tablescape

We place a Seder Plate at our table as a reminder to discuss various aspects of the Passover story. Each item has significance.

Maror - The bitter herb. This symbolizes the harshness of lives of the Israelites in Egypt.

Charoset - A mix of apples, cinnamon, grape juice, and nuts that resembles the mortar used as bricks of the many buildings history presumes the Israelite slaves built in Egypt. (Don't worry we made ours without WINE! We even made some without NUTS for Jorge!)

Karpas - A green vegetable, usually parsley, symbolizes greens' sprouting during spring. We dip karpas into the saltwater, which represents the tears of the enslaved people.

Zeroah - A roasted shank bone symbolizing the sacrifice made at the great Temple on Passover. Unlike the other symbols, we don't raise up the shank bone. (Instead, we just point at it!)

Beitzah - The egg symbolizes another holy day sacrifice that was brought to the Temple. Since eggs are the first item offered to a mourner after a funeral, some say it also evokes a sense of mourning for the destruction of the Temple. An egg is also a symbol of our people's rebirth, after the Exodus, as a free people.

Orange - Recently, the orange on the seder plate has come to symbolize INCLUSION in modern day Judaism, not only for women, but also for people with disabilities, the LGBT Community, transgender folk, alcoholics, and anyone else who feels left out.

Matzah

Matzah is the unleavened bread. When the Israelites fled Egypt, they didn’t have time to let their dough rise.

Elijah’s Cup

The fifth ceremonial cup of wine poured during the Seder. It is left untouched in honor of Elijah, who, according to tradition, will arrive one day as a sign of the beginning of the Messianic Era. During the Seder dinner, biblical verses are read while the door is briefly opened to welcome Elijah. In this way the Seder dinner commemorates the historical redemption from Egyptian bondage.

Miriam’s Cup

Miriam was a prophet. When the Israelites were wandering through the desert, as long as Miriam was with them, a well of fresh drinking water followed them. The tradition of Miriam’s cup honors Miriam’s role in the story of the Exodus.


haggadah Section: Introduction
Source: Geoff Chesman